500 competitors from 31 nations challenged each other over a 50km race and 5.000m elevation gain at La Thuile Enduro World Series 2018.
Source: press release
The fifth round of the season with the mountain bike enduro world series ended today in La Thuile.
After 2014 and 2016, the Aosta Valley locality returns this year to the spotlight of the international mtb scene with a race with a very high technical and very physical content, which once again highlights the natural and wild character of La Thuile as well as its capabilities. of driving and interpretation of the pilots.
A territory emerges that is rightly inserted among the most complete and varied mtb destinations, the ideal place not only to spend an outdoor holiday in the mountains enjoying magnificent 360-degree views, but also to train and prepare for high-level competitions. world like this.
“This place is amazing, natural with roots and rock and a huge variety of different terrains, probably one of the best places in the world to mountain bike and I'm happy to have won here” said the multiple world champion of Downhill Sam Hill and current reigning EWS champion, who just 2 years ago took his first steps in enduro right here in La Thuile.
The beauty of the setting with the highest peaks in Europe still covered with snow runs hand in hand with the harshness of the high mountain environment where the altitude shortens the breath and a simple cloud can create an important temperature change.
Two demanding days for the competitors, made even more difficult by the uncertainty of the weather and by the great difference in height to cover (more than 5000m downhill on 6 special stages, seasoned with important pedaled transfers with even some portage sections with the bike on your back) . Precisely because of the dubious forecasts and the risk of thunderstorms, the race direction was forced to change the route at the last moment and consequently the teams had to revise their strategies. Despite the important change, the entire local organizational machine promptly adapted, redesigning the race in record time, showing that it was able to cope with the unexpected.
In the end, the consistency of Sam Hill and Cecile Ravanel, undisputed protagonists of the whole season, who also dominated the race here in La Thuile, confirming their championship leadership, was rewarded.
While in the women no competitor managed to worry the French rider of the Commencal team, who inflicted a gap of 1.37min on the second classified Isabeau Courdurier (Intense Mavic Collective), among the men the young Belgian Marti Maes (GT Factory Racing), in comeback today with 3 out of 4 specials won, he is just 13sec behind the Australian champion of the Chain Reaction Cycles Mavic team.
Among the Italians, the result of Bruno Zanchi stands out, in third position on the podium of the Master category, together with great names of the caliber of Florian Golay and Karim Amour, who have made the history of enduro. Our under-21 youngsters also did well, with Mirco Vendemmia, fourth, a breath away from the podium for just 2 seconds and Simone Martinelli seventh.
In the men's category, the first Italian is Nicola Casadei, 29th, always at ease on the ground of La Thuile, while 35th is closed by the adopted Aosta Valley Matteo Berta. In women we find Laura Rossin, sixteenth and to follow Jessica Bormolini, nineteenth.
Thousands crowded the special stages to watch the great mtb show that saw its peak with the arrival of the protagonists at the end of the race right in the middle of the paddock area in the plant square.
“We are very proud of the success of this event, which for the third time we were able to bring to La Thuile. The response from the public is ever increasing. The path of La Thuile continues in the great events and in the development of the mtb product. During the next winter season we will host the telemark world cup and then in the summer the Italian Enduro Championship in mtb. " Killy Martinet, president of Funivie Piccolo San Bernardo Spa, said at the end of the event.
